The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-07
nEEcHeR.s CAREER.
Tho Late Plymouth Pastors Autobiogra.
ply as He Gave It to . Newspaper.

Is TciildTkdUie. his DIfUu anu early
history can be no better told than in his
own words. given not quite a year ago:
II was present, of course" he said.
'when l was born, but haven't the
slightest recollection of the event.
learned subsequently that it was at
Litchfield on June "a, 1878. My child
hood was perhaps no different from
that of others seventy years ago. The
little ones in those days were not given
the consideration that is now accorded
them, and properly 50. too. A litera-
ture for children was not dreamed OF.
There were no children's festivals and
holidays; no Christmas and New Years
parties. The only time that brought
us any especial favor was Thanksgiv-
ing, when the New England house.
wives We'd with one another in the
composition of unique pies in limitless
quantity.
''And SO was let alone. My father
was kept busy with his pastoral duties,
and my mother had so many other chill
dren to attend to that little attention
was paid to me. Still, I wa, not lone
some. Twas not fond of reading, but I
used to like to tramp about the woods
and down by the bro ks among the
fens and brakes. I would go on hunt
for swcet-iag and sassafras, and l
knew just where to find the squirrels.
I found plenty to do.
Occasionally the paternal govern
ment would reach; sometimes my
father would whip me. / remember
that he used to tell me that the whip
ping hurt him more than it did me-
twas hard to believe, because he was
a strong man, but believed it, and it
used to make me cry to be told so; then
Of course had to cry when the whip
ping began, and, all in all, those were
very doleful episodes.
About this time," he said in his
droll way, ..my family woke up to the
fact that needed looking after" and
he was sent to Hartford and placed un-
der the charge of his sister, who was
principal of the girls school there. He
was the only boy among forty girls,
and this perhaps dampened his ardor
for knowledge, for he declared that his
time there was also misspent- He was
shortly sent to the Latin school, and
that oppressed him. He was restless
and strangely unhappy. Of this period
in his life he said:
''My father let me read the stories of
Nelson and Captain Cook. The adj
venture fever that often seizes boys
took hold of me. had all sorts of
fancy-drawn pictures of what might
do in the jungles and deserts of the
Orient.
II used to lounge about the docks
and wharves in Boston and listen to the
shouts of the sailors and watch the
great merchantmen make ready for
their voyage to the Indies. At last ]
could stand it no longer. 1 determined
to go to sea and had actually made all
arrangements when my father discov-
cred my purpose by chance.
He did not oppose me, strange as il
may seem. He advised me to go to
Mount Pleasant Academy, at Amherst,
and prepare myself by the study oi
navigation and mathematics for sea-
faring life. And to Mount Pleasant ]
went, and in little while I forgot all
a.out my boyish freak. There I did
study, and when I left was fitted to
enter Amherst College. At college
studied what liked and didn't study
what didn't like
At the age of twenty-one Mr.. Beech.
er received his degree, and went te
Lane Seminary, at Cincinnati, to study
theology. Graduating from that insti
tuition he went to Lawrenceburg, lit
tie place on the Ohio river, and preach,
ed to his first congregation. Of this
dismal beginning Of his illustrious ca
reer he said:
'.How poor we were!
There were only about twenty per
sons in the flock. Twas janitor as wei
as pastor of the little whitewashed
church. bought some lamps and
filled them and lighted them. I sweep
the church and busted the benches ant
kindled the fire, and / didn't ring th,
bell only because there wasn't any.
| ''Well, my next move was to Indian
apolis. There I had more consider
able congregation, though was still
far from rich in the worlds goods.
remember very well how l borrowed
paint pot and brushes and gave m,
house fresh coat-it was yellow,
believe. But the ague shook US out o
the State. My wife's health gave wa,
and we were forced to come East"
His wife, to whom he here alludes
was born at West Sutton, Worceste
County, Mass, in 1912. She was o
English descent. Her father, DR.. Bul
lard, was a physician. Her maidel
name was Eunice White Bullard. Sh
was educated at Worcester and Hadley
Mass, and while Mr.. Beecher was a
Amherst her brother invited him owe
to spend his vacation. Here she me
him. The lovers were engaged 70
seven years, and We're married in 1887
when Mr.. Beecher accepted his tirs
call at Lawrenceburg, The issue Q
the marriage was ten children, of whor
four are at present living.
| IL WIS diuuoSG uy dCSiuCuo oad9 0Ai
Beecher came to Brooklyn. What
now Plymouth Church had first bee
organized into new Congregations
church. The first services were to b
held on the 10th of May, 1847. He hal
pened to be in New York at the tim
and was asked to preside at the openin
of the new church. He did so. A fe'
months later he was called to the pa
torate, and on the 10th of October,
the same year, he entered upon h
duties. OF this all-important episod
in his career, he said in this interview
II am the first and only minister tn,
Plymouth Church has had since I'll
, first day of its organization. OF m
career since assuming this pastorate
prefer not to talk. 1t is familiar {
every one, and would rather be know
by my works. How did come to be